Daiki's Ramen-Nikki ラーメン日記
In Japanese grade school, students are often asked to write an 絵日記 (えにっき), that is, a picture diary, over their exploits during summer break; in my experience, it was a fun way to go out and have fun during summer, while also learning from the experiences I had through reflection and recollection. In that same spirit, this guide will be titled the ラーメン日記, or my ‘Ramen diary’. Under the current COVID-19 pandemic, many of these restaurants provide take-out or delivery options which fill a specific niche of online food service. Ramen, currently a Japanese cultural staple universally familiar around the world, takes many forms and varieties between regions and markets. The Boston area is no different; with many Japanese-owned and run Ramen-ya (ラーメン屋) in the area, there are a multitude of options to go with, including Ramen restaurants Santouka, Ganko Ittetsu, Brooklyn Ramen, Migaku, Yume ga arukara, Pikaichi, Tsurumen, Amaterasu, Oisa, Ebisuya, and more in and around Boston. As an intern, and as a university student with limited kitchen access but homesick for Japanese food, I will be exploring what Boston can offer to my Ramen cravings. I will disclose that this is not a ranking list, nor a culinary study, but rather the opinions of a JSB intern with a Ramen addiction. Furthermore, with each restaurant, I have tried to order either a takeout option, or a make-it-yourself kit; this seemed more topical with the overall idea of “what Ramen can I have under the pandemic circumstances”. Having said all this, it’s time to go eat Ramen(in a safe, socially distanced manner of shopping) and explore the Greater Boston area along the way!